Through an analysis of fieldwork interviews and both primary and secondary source evaluation, this report presents a baseline overview of the extremist threatscape as it pertains to the Republic of Macedonia. The researchers analyse both focus groups and individual interviews with critical stakeholders in civil society, members of the security…

Like all countries in the region, the recent foreign fighter phenomenon that emerged after 2012 brought the issues of radicalisation and violent extremism into the focus of Montenegrin officials. In 2015, they responded by developing a Countering Violent Extremism Strategy, followed by an associated National Action Plan. Yet, respondents in…

Violent extremism is not a grave problem in Serbia. Not only have a small number of individuals joined militants in Syria, but there are also few violent extremists present in Serbia. In this regard, the Serbian Ministry of Interior estimated that 49 individuals joined Islamic state or Al-Qaeda affiliates and…

Para hacer frente al terrorismo de manera efectiva es necesario llegar a comprender los múltiples factores que lo componen. Uno fundamental concierne a la conducta de quienes lo perpetran.

This five point guide for journalists provides a quick and handy overview of the most important things to have in mind when reporting on radicalization and violent extremism, by advising journalists on the principles of conflict-sensitive, ethical and fact-based reporting. The guide also advises journalists on the importance of knowing…

Violent extremism and radicalisation in Macedonia are at the crux of the complex puzzle in the broader jigsaw of state-building and societal cohesion. While the individual drivers of violent extremism in Macedonia are consistent to findings elsewhere, this study uncovers structural drivers rooted specifically in the Macedonian context, all of…

In recent years, there has been an unprecedented boom in online hate speech and extremism. Grave though it is, this global issue has not gone unchallenged. Rather, it has given rise to an international archipelago of organisations, civil society groups, and individuals that proactively engage in counter-speech – i.e., “a…

Research shows that, historically, relatively few returning foreign terrorist fghters (FTFs) posed a direct threat. However, those that did were responsible for some of the most lethal terrorist attacks carried out over the past three decades. FTFs have also played a critical role in creating and strengthening terrorist groups, and…

This briefing paper documents attempts by Italian extreme-right activists to influence the recent Italian elections in their favour. It highlights how these activists are adopting an increasingly international perspective, influencing and being influenced by the international alt-right, and adopting tactics similar to those deployed in recent European elections, including the…

Despite the traditional restrictive views of Islamic jurisprudence on women’s social activities, the level of women’s incorporation into jihadi organizations is growing rapidly in both numbers and roles. This article argues that this increase reflects a strategic logic—jihadi groups integrate women to enhance organizational success. The article develops a typology…

The use of the Internet, particularly social media, by violent extremists and terrorists and their supporters received an increasing amount of attention from policymakers, media, Internet companies, and civil society organisations in 2017. In addition to politicians stepping-up their rhetoric regarding the threat posed by consumption of and networking around…

Research on the engagement of children with the so-called Islamic State (a.k.a. ISIS) relies heavily on the analysis of obtained ISIS documents and ISIS-disseminated propaganda, leaving major elements of the recruitment and deployment process uncovered. Such ambiguities hinder future efforts aimed at dealing with ISIS’ child soldiers. As such, an…